Retirement closed the chapter on a long and distinguished career for Clara Ellert as a dental therapist and educator. Her retirement was celebrated by friends and family at the Prince of Wales Centre on November 11. It was an evening of sharing memories and laughter while socializing over appetizers and drinks. A display table provided guests with a glimpse into Ellert鈥檚 remarkable 42-year career. There were photo albums with snapshots of her visits to schools, along with her academic degrees and honours.
鈥淔ew people dedicate themselves as much to the job than Clara,鈥� commented Wanda Ogle, a nursing colleague from Five Hills Health Region. Ellert herself recounted her rise through her career, which parallels the development of dental nursing in the province. 鈥淢y career has been amazing,鈥� she stated. 聽
Ellert graduated from the University of Saskatchewan in 1975 in dental therapy. It was only the second graduating class of dental nurses at that time. Back in the 1970s, there was much less specialization in medicine than encountered today. This occupation later came to be known as a dental therapist, Ellert explained. A decade later when the province phased out the school dental program, the profession underwent another transformation into dental health education.
Ellert began her dental career in private practice at My Dental Centre in Assiniboia. 鈥淚 learned so much there,鈥� she said. During the last phase of her career, she spent 23 years in public health as a dental health educator in the Five Hills Health Region. 鈥淚t was an honour to serve as dental health educator,鈥� Ellert noted.
鈥淐lara made the best of every situation,鈥� said Jenn Pituliy, who emceed the evening. 鈥淪he has the gift of making everyone feel comfortable.鈥� The broad cross-section of guests attending the evening bore this out, including public health colleagues, nurses, and those in private practice as well as dental patients.
While Ellert loved her job and all of the patients that she encountered, she found most delight in working with children. Album after album of photographs with children at schools underscore this point. She also took pleasure in visiting the Hutterite colonies where she was warmly welcomed. Many of the children knew Ellert as the 鈥渢ooth fairy鈥� or 鈥淢rs. Tooth鈥�.
In recognition of her dedication to the dental health of children, the Assiniboia Childcare Services presented her with a gift. The children of ACS made their favourite 鈥渢ooth fairy鈥� her a piece of art.
Part of her work with the dental program took Ellert on long road trips to schools and communities across the southwest. The 鈥渃razy roads鈥� and 小蓝视频 stranded during snow storms are just some of the memories that she will fondly recall. Throughout all the years and changing duties, Ellert credits her family, friends and public health coworkers for their support.
In a humorous and partly symbolic way to end the program, Ellert passed on the 鈥渢ooth fairy鈥� wand to Pituliy as a gesture of passing the torch to the next generation of dental educators. Ellert will be missed in dental public health. She spent the remainder of the evening reminiscing with friends and guests.
